ACCRA, Ghana — President John Dramani Mahama announced Thursday that Ghana will incorporate short military training into its mandatory national service program, a move aimed at fostering discipline and physical fitness among the country's youth.
Speaking before Parliament during his inaugural State of the Nation Address, President Mahama outlined several initiatives to strengthen the national service framework. The military training component represents a significant shift in the program's orientation toward character development.
"We will introduce short military training as part of our national service scheme. This will instill a sense of fitness and discipline into our youth," President Mahama declared to assembled lawmakers.
The Ghanaian leader has instructed the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment to develop and submit to Parliament a legislative instrument that would provide legal backing for implementing the recently enacted National Service Authority Act 2024, also known as Act 1119.
President Mahama addressed corruption, ordering security forces to pursue individuals connected to a massive payroll fraud at the National Service Scheme. According to presidential statements, perpetrators allegedly added approximately 80,000 non-existent personnel to payrolls, potentially defrauding the government of more than 50 million Ghanaian cedis monthly.
"Unfortunately, some suspects are believed to have absconded from the country," President Mahama noted. "I have directed that they be declared wanted and their assets traced and frozen until investigations are completed."
The announcement comes amid the administration's broader efforts to reform public institutions and combat financial malfeasance across government agencies.
Speaking before Parliament during his inaugural State of the Nation Address, President Mahama outlined several initiatives to strengthen the national service framework. The military training component represents a significant shift in the program's orientation toward character development.
"We will introduce short military training as part of our national service scheme. This will instill a sense of fitness and discipline into our youth," President Mahama declared to assembled lawmakers.
The Ghanaian leader has instructed the Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment to develop and submit to Parliament a legislative instrument that would provide legal backing for implementing the recently enacted National Service Authority Act 2024, also known as Act 1119.
President Mahama addressed corruption, ordering security forces to pursue individuals connected to a massive payroll fraud at the National Service Scheme. According to presidential statements, perpetrators allegedly added approximately 80,000 non-existent personnel to payrolls, potentially defrauding the government of more than 50 million Ghanaian cedis monthly.
"Unfortunately, some suspects are believed to have absconded from the country," President Mahama noted. "I have directed that they be declared wanted and their assets traced and frozen until investigations are completed."
The announcement comes amid the administration's broader efforts to reform public institutions and combat financial malfeasance across government agencies.
